Popeye (seal)

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Popeye is a female harbor seal that has become the official seal of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

Biography[]

Since 1995, Popeye has been a frequent visitor to Friday Harbor. Her visits became so common that in 2005, the Port of Friday Harbor named her the port's official seal.^[1] The State of Washington mandated that each public port have an "official seal," possibly thinking of an ink stamp; the Port director and Port commission: Greg Hertel, Brian Calvert and Mike Ahrenius interpreted this differently giving the beloved seal the title. A granite sculpture of Popeye was also commissioned and stands in Fairweather Park, adjacent to the marina.

She is known as Popeye presumably for her left eye which is a cloudy white—something that has also been reflected in her statue.

Popeye is a major attraction for the town of Friday Harbor, but few people know that it's against the law - as enforced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - to feed any marine mammal in Washington state waters.

Popeye was featured on 92.9 KISM's Brad and John show, "When Animals Attack," on Wednesday, August 18, 2017. Popeye, the 200+ lb seal, attacked a man on Thursday, August 10 in the Friday Harbor Marina.^[2]

She has not been seen since the late 2010’s, presumably due to a natural death, as female harbor seals only live 25–35 years of age.^[3]

Gallery[]

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  Popeye in 2005

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  Statue of Popeye in Fairweather Park, Friday Harbor

References[]